Kolsch vs. Double IPA in LEO poll results.

I place little stock in seemingly ubiquitous on-line reader polls, and I don’t personally encourage anyone to vote.

In like fashion, the New Albanian Brewing Company refrains from asking its customers and fans to cast dozens of ballots for the sake of the cause. Some of the time we are mentioned in such polls, at other times not, but as a perennial underdog from unappreciated New Albany, to so much as win, place or show in the absence of chest thumping and similar varieties of narcissistic campaigning always provides sweet vindication, especially if the voting is being conducted by a Louisville-oriented publication.

So, briefly: In this year’s LEO Weekly Readers’ Choice poll, NABC's Hoptimus finished at number two, trailing Alltech's Kentucky Kolsch and coming ahead of BBC APA.

If anything, these results embrace a range. The Kolsch is 4.7% ABV, and Hoptimus 10.7%. It probably also lends credence to Hoptimus as Louisville's only classic I2PA.

Diary: Hopslam and Hoptimus, sans "versus".

Just the other night, I had the unexpected opportunity to sample Bell’s Hopslam Ale and NABC Hoptimus side by side. I know too much for it to have been a blind taste test, but it didn’t need to be, seeing as Hopslam and Hoptimus are so very different from each other even if both are lumped into the “Imperial” IPA category.

Hopslam is released once a year by Bell’s, a brewery in Michigan. Hoptimus is available year-round from NABC, a brewery in Indiana (my brewery, of course).

Hopslam uses different hops (six varietals and Simcoe) than Hoptimus (Cascade). Hoptimus is deceptively drier, and Hopslam is malty sweet.

They both cost a lot to make, and neither is cheap on a store shelf.

My verdict? They’re both good, but markedly different.

Do you like basketball or rugby? Maybe both, depending on the mood, although beer and sports aren’t the same animal. Sports possess an objective system of measurement called “keeping score.” Beer has a wonderful tendency to lapse into flights of the subjective, fueling stories and irreconcilable bragging rights, which is why beer is good while viewing sports.

Hopslam and Hoptimus. Enjoy one, the other, or both.

NABC’s Hoptimus Inception Reception is at Bank Street Brewhouse on January 31, 2014.

Now that I know Peter can write, it's time to begin squeezing out some copy. Meanwhile, we're having a birthday party for Hoptimus, and why not? It's NABC's biggest selling off-premise brand, and has been since our second brewing location opened in 2009. I'd be interested to know how Hoptimus ranks in sales among locally-brewed, year-round Imperial IPAs in the Louisville market. I suppose this begs the question: Are there any others?

NABC’s Hoptimus Inception Reception is at Bank Street Brewhouse on January 31, 2014, by Peter Fingerson, NABC Brewer

While many of the facts of Hoptimus’s remarkable birth (rather, its immaculate inception), remain unknown, it can be said with inimitable truth that Hoptimus is a beer of the utmost merit. Even from its fledgling beginnings, the beer had a mind with its own agenda: It was determined to leave a mark on the craft beer scene, and it has done just that.

Red Yeti Brewing in Jeffersonville moves closer to opening.

I heard the first stirrings of Red Yeti Brewing roughly one year ago, and the semi-official public announcement was made in May, 2013. It's great news for Jeffersonville. Here's an update from Kevin "502 Brews" Gibson.

Red Yeti Brewing hopes to open by late January in Jeffersonville

Another microbrewery and pub is set to open in early 2014 – Red Yeti Brewing nears completion of its brewing operation and restaurant after completely overhauling a two-story structure in downtown Jeffersonville.

Owner Brandy Ronau said she and her husband Paul Ronau have been planning the brewery for three years, and renovations to the building at 256 Spring St. have been going on for about a year. Brandy said Red Yeti just got approved for a liquor license to have a full bar in addition to house-made beers.

Which led to an interesting digression elsewhere. What do you think? To me, it's a coincidence and no great shakes, although John's right: Out in the marketplace, and the parameters might be different. That's a long way off, and the important thing is for Red Yeti to open and begin brewing good beer.

What’s in a name?, by John King (LouisvilleBeer.com)

... (Kevin) Gibson discussed the proposed opening of Red Yeti Brewery in Jeffersonville, IN with their headlining beer “HopIPAtamus”. As soon I read that, I thought to myself two things:

1. How the hell do you say that? (pronounce it similarly to “hippopotamus”)

2. That sounds an awful lot like it’s neighbor to the west, Hoptimus from NABC. (Not to be confused with Hoptimus Prime by Ruckus Brewing…which can’t touch NABCs version)

HopIPAtamus. Hoptimus. That could get confusing if Red Yeti started putting beer out in the Kentuckiana market.

NABC Hoptimus to be featured at Buckhead Mountain Grill (Bardstown Road) this week and next.

Tisha Gainey explains Craft Beer Thursdays at Buckhead Mountain Grill (Bardstown Road, Louisville), and where Hoptimus fits into the plan this week and next.

In 2013, Thursdays will be Craft Beer Thursdays. The first Thursday will be a Pint night, then the following Thursdays will be anything from a food/beer pairing, set flight night or brewery appreciation, etc. At Buckhead on Bardstown Road:

Jan. 10 - NABC Hoptimus with Carne Asada.

Jan. 17 - Locals Flight night - NABC Hoptimus will be another feature for the second week, but on Jan. 10 it has the spotlight to itself.

Also note that Wednesdays are local at all Buckhead locations.

Weekly Beer Features:

Every Wednesday is LOCAL Wednesdays for only $3 a pint at ALL Buckhead Mountain Grill locations.

We feature 16oz pints of Local draft Craft brewed Beers from the surrounding area. In the Louisville area we consider local brews to be any Kentucky or Indiana brewed beer, such as Bluegrass Brewing Company, Falls City, Cumberland, Against the Grain, Alltech Lexington Brewing (Kentucky Ale), New Albanian, Upland, Three Floyds, Oaken Barrel, Barley Island, Flat 12 Bierwerks, etc. In the Bellevue/Northern Kentucky area, we consider local brews to be any Kentucky or Ohio brewed beer to be local; which includes the breweries Mt. Carmel, Rivertown, Christian Morelin, Great Lakes, Bluegrass Brewing, Alltech Lexington Brewing (Kentucky Ale), etc. We showcase and support our local breweries with this $3 Pint special EVERY Wednesday at ALL locations. Come in and support your local breweries too! (Local Wednesdays excludes any beers that are in limited pouring sizes of 10oz and 12oz beers due to the availability or ABV. Special price feature applies only to draft beers offered in a 16oz serving size.)

I'd call it a vigorous fermentation.

What's fermenting at Bank Street Brewhouse?

It's Hoptimus, that's what

.

Tony's bomber label design for Hoptimus.

Here's what NABC plans to take to the Great Taste of the Midwest.

Following is what I've submitted on behalf of NABC to the Great Taste of the Midwest for inclusion in this year's program. The festival takes place on August 14 in Madison, Wisconsin, and is a must-visit at some point in your beer drinking career. This year, we're being placed close by The Livery, Schlafly and O'Fallon so as to enable a "collaboration corner" and feature cooperative projects brewed during the past year.

---

NABC Beer Descriptions, for the Great Taste of the Midwest 2010 official program

(Includes both descriptions and details about NABC collaboration beer placements. *Recipe notes provided for collaborations brewed at NABC)

-------------------------

At the NABC station, C02 pour:

Elector, Elsa von Horizon, Hoptimus, Thunderfoot

Cask-conditioned NABC (pin at the NABC station; tapping time TBA):

2008 Port-aged Bonfire of the Valkyries

Cask-conditioned NABC (firkins at the real ale tent):

Beak’s Best and Community Dark

Collaboration(s) casks, to be tapped at Collaboration Corner, not the real ale tent:

*NABC/The Livery Oaked Le Douche Mentale & Scotch pin conditioned Le Douche Mentale

Malts: Castle Pale, Castle Biscuit, Simpsons Medium Crystal

Hops: Wet Fuggles, Nugget, Fuggle, Cascade

ABV: 8.5%

IBU: 75

*NABC/O’Fallon/Schlafly C2 Smoked Belgian Dark Strong Ale

Malts: Castle Pale, Weyermann Rauchmalz, Castle Biscuit, Briess Smoked, Castle Aromatic, Castle Special B Mash hops: Mt. Hood, Crystal Kettle hops: Magnum, Celeia Yeast: Belgian Chouffe O.G. 1.097 or 24.3 Plato ABV: 10.4% IBU: 35 Color: 14.8

Collaboration Notes:
The Livery also debuts its 5th anniversary beer, Imperial Dark IPA (NABC’s Jared Williamson helped brew it) at its station, and O' Fallon debuts C3, the third collaboration series beer with O’Fallon’s, NABC and Schlafly, at its station.

Main NABC beer descriptions

Beak’s Best

Malts: Simpsons Golden Promise, Simpsons Medium Crystal, Castle (Belgian) Aromatic and Special B

Hops: Double hopped with Cascade pellets, finished through hop-back with whole cone Cascades

Yeast: House London

OG: 1.059 or 14.75 degree Plato

ABV: 5.3%

IBU: 35

Color: 10.3 degree Lovibond SRM

American bitter & soul liniment
NABC’s session-strength American Bitter is named in honor of globetrotting historian and educator Don "Beak" Barry, and in 2003 it was the winner of the "Louisville Magazine Best Of" award for Louisville area microbrews. Like its namesake, Beak’s is fond of traveling (albeit in kegs), lending itself to refreshing contemplation.
-----------------------------

Bonfire of the Valkyries

Malts: Weyermanns Rauchmalz, Simpsons Black, Castle Aromatic, Castle Special B

Hops: Czech Zatec (Saaz)

Yeast: Common Lager

OG: 1083

ABV: 8.5%

IBU: 5.1

Color: 46.2 SRM

Burning away the hours 'til Ragnarok
Although it’s probably somewhere in the German brewing playbook, we couldn’t find the rule prohibiting the higher-gravity crossing of Black Lager with Smoked Lager, so we brew Bonfire each year in autumn and let it age until release just before Christmas. For the Great Taste, Bonfire has been aged in JW Lees ’08 Port pin.

-----------------------------

Community Dark

Malts: Special Pale, Dark Crystal and Chocolate malts

Hops: Double hopped with EK Golding

Yeast: House London

OG: 1.046 or 11.5 degree Plato

ABV: 3.7%

IBU: 12.5

Color: 25 degree Lovibond SRM

Inside is what counts
Inspired by traditional English Mild, the style that fueled the workers who made the Industrial Revolution, Community Dark is revolutionary in its own way: Dark-colored but light-bodied, and a session ale suitable for New Albany’s emerging downtown renaissance.

-----------------------------

Elector

Malts: Special Pale and Simpsons Medium Crystal

Hops: Triple hopped with Chinook pellets, finished through hop-back with whole cone Cascades

Yeast: House London

OG: 1.074 or 18.5 degree Plato

ABV: 7.5%

IBU: 62

Color: 11.9 degree Lovibond SRM

Makes democracy pointless
Excessive hopping rendered moot the original modest plan to brew a traditional winter warmer, but the resulting hybrid was delicious and redefines the Imperial Red style category. The first batch of Elector was brewed on Election Day, 2002, a mere two years after the nation’s electors (most recently) made democracy pointless, and we persist in thinking that an Elector in hand is worth two Bushes in retirement, any election day, any old time at all.

-----------------------------

Elsa Von Horizon

Malts: German Pilsner, German Munich

Hops: Hallertauer Mittelfruh, Tettnang

Yeast: Common Lager

OG: 1.100

ABV: 10%

IBU: 80

Color: 5.4 SRM

Bekämpfen sie und ich beiße sie
It is deceptively simple. A Pilsner rich in noble continental hops is brewed to the strength of Maibock and beyond, and then even more noble hops are added to the recipe for balance and bite. Not even the Germans try it, and we consider this shyness as implicit encouragement to innovate. Elsa is a proud member of NABC’s Brewers’ Best Friend Series, along with Malcolm and Jasmine. They’re assertive, loyal specialties named for our brewers’ canine chums.

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Hoptimus

Malts: Special Pale

Adjunct: Pure, free-range sucrose

Hops: 4 additions of high alpha Nugget, 1 late addition of Cascade, finished through hop-back with whole cone Cascades

Yeast: House London

OG: 1.097 or 24.25 degree Plato

ABV: 10.7%

IBU: 100

Color: 6.9 degree Lovibond SRM

Made of sterner stuff
“Vicariously” is for rank amateurs and subpar international lagers, because Hoptimus lives vivaciously through itself, and is best consumed in the prime of youth, when its bold hop character is at its snarkiest and most blatantly unrepentant. Hoptimus has been named “the beer most likely to be preferred by the most interesting man in the world, if he really were the most interesting man in the world, but he isn’t” by Publicans Monthly magazine.

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Thunderfoot

Malts: Special Pale, Simpson's Roasted Barley, Simpson's Dark Crystal, Flaked Oats

Adjunct: Pure free-range sucrose

Hops: Quad-hopped with Northern Brewer and Willamette

Special treatment: Dried tart cherries fall into the hopback, and medium-toast American oak chips and dried Bing cherries go into each keg for aging. One year later: In your glass.

Yeast: House London

OG: 1.106 or 25.2 degree Plato

ABV: 12%

IBU: 84

Color: 72.7 degree Lovibond SRM

Ultimate urban renewal
There can be no doubt that Thunderfoot actively renounces the art of the gentle tweak, the mild revision, and the imperceptible hint. Rather, Thunderfoot advocates palatal renewal the old-fashioned way – complete, irresistible and certain. 20 months old; brewed January, 2009.

HBG Springtime Tournament: That little known third category.

It required instant replay, appeals to the Supreme Court and a last-minute visit to Photoshop, but here it is:

Hoosier Beer Geek's Springtime Tournament of Beer Champions: Final Results

Special election tonight: NABC Hoptimus vs. Bell's HopSlam.

It's time for the special election: Vote early and often as two heavyweights, NABC Hoptimus and Bell's HopSlam go toe to toe tonight at the Pizzeria & Public House. It's simple. Try each, and vote for your favorite. Your ballot also is an entry form, and at the end of the evening, we'll draw for a $20 NABC gift card.

This year, we have only two HopSlam kegs in stock: One for tapping tonight, and one at Gravity Head 2010. How long will this one last? It's a tough call, but I'd guess perhaps three days, although it's possible that emptying comes sooner.

Note: No growlers of HopSlam! Sorry, but it's only fair. Hoptimus, on the other hand ...

Bank Street brewed: Hoptimus is back.

As NABC’s core portfolio is brewed at our new Bank Street Brewhouse facility and tapped for public consumption, I’ve been reintroducing each one and providing background as to its development.

Hoptimus reappeared last week and is on tap at both NABC locations. It should be appearing around Louisville as I write.

Back in 2006, I made the following comment:

Meanwhile, if drinker comments are any gauge, Jesse’s struck gold with his session Double IPA (if there can be such a thing), Hoptimus … the alcohol by volume is 9%, and although it’s a cliché, be aware that Hoptimus is deceptively drinkable.

Almost four years have passed, and Hoptimus has retained its panache. Along with the elusive (and less often brewed) Thunderfoot, Hoptimus remains the “most asked for” sample during the summertime festival season. For various reasons, the ABV has crept up a bit since birth, and that’s okay by most of us.

Here’s another passage from 2006. It’s true that on occasion, we’ve aged Hoptimus with oak chips to make Oaktimus, but in terms of the everyday drinking experience, I stand by these words today.

There’s much to like for the card-carrying hophead, but to me the most endearing quality of Hoptimus is its youth. Without a concerted effort on our parts to stash a keg somewhere, it’s never going to be around long enough to “mature,” and in this sense, I believe Hoptimus bears comparison to certain young wines, and especially Ruby Port – a bit rough around the edges, but honest and in the end, better for it.

I drank three last night, and felt a bit rough around the edges this morning -- but I was refreshed, and seemingly better for it.

Malts:
Special Pale

Adjunct:
Pure, free-range sucrose

Hops:
4 additions of high alpha Nugget, 1 late addition of Cascade, finished through hop-back with whole cone Cascades

Yeast:
House London

OG:
1.097 or 24.25 degree Plato

ABV:
10.7%

IBU: 100

Color:
6.9 degree Lovibond SRM

Grassroots and the Fabled Garage Brewhouse

By John Campbell

Grassroots seems like an appropriate theme considering that I'm off to Madison, Indiana, to attend the Ohio River Valley Folk Festival this weekend. I would love to brag about the integrity of the event, their support of craft beer, local arts, and grassrooted, folk festivities, but I can't (See Roger's blog posts from last week for an in-depth explanation). Unfortunately, too many people have forgotten their roots in the race for success and supremacy. I can firmly state that we are not of that stock. We will always strive to learn, to improve, to grow, and to expand, but never by turning our backs on those who helped us, believed in us, and carried us along the way.

Today I felt it necessary to acknowledge our roots, the brewery that started it all, and the brewer who has been carrying us for at least a couple of weeks now. While all eyes have been on Bank Street, Jared Williamson has been laboring away at the original location in the fabled Garage Brewhouse where it all began...

3312 Plaza Drive, New Albany, Indiana

While David and Jesse have been preparing for the new brewery and working hard to streamline the delivery and installation, Jared has been working just as hard to keep beer in the tanks and recover from our unforeseen beer drought. The brewing system at this location is a 4 barrel brewhouse with 8 barrel fermenters that require two brews to fill and, even then, will only produce 16 kegs of beer. The bottom line is this: it is labor intensive, requires a long brew day, barely supplies enough beer for both locations, and just when you think you are caught up, it starts over again. Yet, somehow Jared has managed to pull it off. Our beer is back on tap and tasting better than ever thanks to his devotion, David's added know-how, some new equipment, a bit of loyalty, a dab of commitment, and a big-ass, heapin' scoop of integrity.






Despite the long hours, Jared managed to brew enough beer for me to take 8 kegs to the Folk Festival this weekend. Kinda sad that it will be pouring next to an Anheuser-Busch truck this year, ain't it?

Jared inspecting the latest batch of Community Dark

David's newest contribution to our old way of doing things.

Here's some good news for our die-hard New Albanian fans and hopheads: Hoptimus is in the tank and will be back on tap soon! Jared pulled some off the fermenter and we had ourselves a good ol' grassroots nip off the tank.








That is the face of a Craft Brewer and that is the way beer was meant to be.

We had a spare keg, so ...

Indianapolis readers, pay heed. We did not fail to take notice of how much you enjoyed our limited supplies of Hoptimus during the summer festival season.

Hoptimus is coming soon to a local establishment near you. But I'll let them tell you about it when the time comes.

It's only one keg. Maybe more can be brought up later ...